Finishing work and projects continue at Lincoln School through the contract with Comstock despite the facility being open and operational. Hydroseeding, a few interior projects, and horizontal striping on the exterior of the building still need to be completed. Before the striping can begin,…
reporter
With a federal ag pandemic program ending soon ag producers need to file acreage reports by June 15 to receive premium benefit for cover crops.
Preparing for the end of life is a difficult, trying time for many. Death is a topic that is avoided but it is a part of life nonetheless. As a society people try to isolate themselves from death in their personal lives and circles while acknowledging that, ultimately, it is still a reality.
reporter
The Viking Library System Executive Committee will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 15 at 5:15 p.m.
The University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, is offering a free horticulture educational class, “Come Grow with Us” as we learn about backyard birdhouses. on Wednesday, June 16 from 6-7 p.m.
It’s that time of year again to enjoy boating, and being out on the lake. It’s a Minnesota tradition for sure, but that tradition comes with certain responsibilities regarding safety and basic boat operations.
Let’s Go Fishing Otter Tail County made their first voyage of the season Tuesday afternoon from a dock at Elk’s Point on Wall Lake. The organization takes seniors in the area, on special cruises during the summer months.
Otter Tail County continues to innovate services with a new website application for property valuation and sales. The public can find how property is valued, and realtors, abstractors, attorneys, and surveyors will appreciate the regular real-time updates to the information.
Underwood woman, Nancy XiáoRong Valentine, was chosen to participate in Springboard for the Arts’ “Artists Respond: Equitable Rural Future” program, supported by the Blandin Foundation which selected a handful of artists across rural Minnesota, giving precedence to people of color, the disab…
In honor of Fergus Falls’ first Black resident, a dedication ceremony for the new Honeycutt Memorial Drive will be held on Saturday, June 12, 2 p.m. at 612 E. Summit Ave.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College has named 615 students to its president’s list and 572 students to its dean’s list for the 2021 Spring Semester.
Two more Fergus Falls businesses have been designated as Bicycle Friendly Businesses through the League of American Bicyclists.
reporter
Kaddatz Galleries is currently exhibiting collections from three Twin Cities artists — Kerri Sandve, Jodi Reeb and Martha Bird.
reporter
NP Park in Fergus Falls may soon see a bunch of new playground equipment thanks to the Noon Kiwanis club. A thorough and detailed presentation was given by Sarah Duffy and Tami Vigessa giving the Fergus Falls City Council an update of where they are at in the fundraising and planning process.
Kate Mudge of Ashby, Minnesota, has joined West Central Initiative as the business development officer.
Effective June 14, Lake Region Electric Cooperative (LREC) and Lake Region Energy Services (LRES) will change daily business and lobby hours to 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce that Tyler Schepper joined the nonprofit economic development organization on May 17. Schepper serves as the administrative assistant with a focus on strategic fundraising.
A major milestone to bring the Downtown Riverfront Improvement Project to reality was reached on Wednesday with an official groundbreaking event that took place in the parking lot behind the Viking Cafe in downtown Fergus Falls. The event marks the beginning of phase one of the project.
The victims of a Friday, June 4 murder-suicide in Wahpeton have been identified by the city police department.Gregory Zander, 62, lived with Karen Ertelt-Wanner, 52, at 1027 Vantura Dr., Wahpeton. Both were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds after 2:30 a.m. Friday morning.“A preliminary…
The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office and Clay County joined in a high speed pursuit with law enforcement on Wednesday at around 8 p.m. on Minnesota Highway 108 near County Highway 11.
On May 27, the Otter Tail Hoot Lake Power Plant was retired and marked the end of 100 years of coal-fired energy generation at the site according to Otter Tail Power.
A Center for the Arts’ (AC4TA) first outdoor summer concert will kick off on Sunday with a performance by John McAndrew.
reporter
Summerfest returns to Kirkbride Park on June 11 and 12 after taking a year off due to COVID-19 and the restrictions it placed on society. “Summerfest will be one of the first large events in the area where people can gather and reconnect with their neighbors and family and friends,” shared S…
reporter
The Otter Tail County Historical Society’s community walking tour series is in full swing as it visits historic downtown New York Mills on Friday, June 11, 5 p.m.
In the early morning of April 20, I awoke in Taiwan to a dreaded phone call from Minnesota to learn about the passing of Walter “Fritz” Mondale, the former vice president to President Jimmy Carter. Born in Ceylon, a small town in southern Minnesota, Mondale lived to 93 — having served as a M…
Seven former M State Spartan football players now coach for the Fargo Invaders Football Club of the Northern Elite Football League. Four of those players turned coaches coached at M State as well.
reporter
Richard West, Otter Tail County’s long serving county engineer, will retire from Otter Tail County. West, a graduate of North Dakota State University with a B.S. degree in civil engineering, began his career with Otter Tail County 30 years ago as the county engineer. Tasked early in his care…
The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) is requesting the public’s assistance in locating fugitive Robert Thomas Baca, who was last seen in California.
The building behind the west end of the former Kirkbride designed Regional Treatment Center that served as living quarters for nurses is going to officially be repurposed as an assisted living center called the Cottage Senior Living Facility, managed by Northern Oaks Senior Living, with head…
As aquatic invasive species in area lakes have become more prevalent, so has the overall approach to enforcement. Otter Tail County’s approach this year involves many key components with a centerpiece revolving around continued education.
State Rep. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, has announced the city of Elizabeth is receiving a $600,000 state grant to assist with a wastewater project.
Spring temperatures mean that Minnesotans are out of their homes and enjoying the natural outdoor wonders that our state has to offer. Unfortunately that translates into warmer weather and “Ticks.” Ticks are pathogen carrying arachnoids. Tick bites can transmit disease to humans and animals.
The Unitarian Church of Underwood and Sverdrup Lutheran Church in Underwood have come together to bring Dr. Donna Beegle to share her training: “Breaking the Iron Cage of Poverty.”
The Middle School honors band and eighth grade ensembles performed in an outdoor tour of local nursing home facilities on Friday, visiting PioneerCare, Broen Home, Mill Street Residence, and the Veterans Home performing various American folk tunes and pep band music.
reporter
Heather Kantrud of Fergus Falls (56537) has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s winter 2021 dean’s list. The winter term runs from January to May.
Emily Hoff from Richville, has made the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater dean’s list for the 2021 spring semester.
Jackson Merrick of Ashby was named to the University of Wisconsin-Stout dean's list for the spring 2021 semester.
Karli Kawlewski and Kenna Salo of New York Mills were recognized to have met the academic criteria to be named on the spring semester dean’s list.
Having recently spent part of my day with fourth- and fifth- graders out at Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, a quote from Henry David Thoreau seems like an appropriate beginning to this column, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” I listened as students recited thei…
The June Lynne Lacey Foundation awarded three scholarships May 28 at the Awards Day Ceremony at Ashby High School. Recipients were McKenna Williams, Kate Jensen and Deklin Goeden.
The Fergus Falls Public Library has summer programming for all community members, ages birth through adult. This summer’s theme is “Reading Colors Your World” and brings back in-person programming while still offering virtual programming for hybrid accessibility options.
reporter
Fergus Falls Public Schools and the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center (PWLC) have been engaged in a partnership that allows select students to split their school day between a standard classroom and an outdoor learning environment, a unique program that is the first of its kind.
reporter
Watch for the new Viking Library System (VLS) bookmobile, coming to a community near you this summer! The new bookmobile hits the road June 1 in west central Minnesota, continuing more than 40 years of service to the region. The bookmobile replaces an older model that proudly served the area…
Minnesota State Community and Technical College is pleased to announce the appointment of academic deans to fill two new leadership positions at the college.
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce the purchase of the former Sunmart facility at 1205 W. Lincoln Ave., has been finalized. Local development company Wayne Enterprises LLC, took ownership on Friday, May 28, 2021, with plans to redevelop the property into a multibusiness facili…
Memorial Day weekend is a time to reflect and think about those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and the Gold Star families of Otter Tail County.
The Welcome House and Northwestern Bank are hosting the Ultimate Lakes Area Thrift Store Crawl for the month of June 2021. The purpose of the event is to showcase nonprofit thrift stores in the lakes area and the missions these stores support. Shoppers can pick up a “Passport Book” at one of…
Krystyne Frandson and her family moved to the community in 2017. Her teenage son, who is openly gay and had been raised in a loving and accepting environment, faced the challenges of adjusting to a fairly unaccepting environment. He had one opportunity for an inclusive group, “Rainbow Club,”…
reporter
Former Otter Tail County deputy Kelly Backman has been formally sentenced following a petition to enter a guilty plea with the Otter Tail County District Court for a gross misdemeanor charge of misconduct of a public officer/employee, in exchange for dropping misdemeanor fourth-degree DWI charges.
The city of Ottertail first began the “Ottertail City Park Music Series” events in June 2015, kicking off the tradition with a performance by the Fergus Falls jazz band. They have since grown and are preparing for summer with six music events that are free to the public. Two events will be h…
reporter
Currently participating in Springboard for the Arts’ Homecoming Hinge Residency is Ranae Hanson, who spent her early childhood in Wheaton.
reporter
The Fergus Falls Walmart hosted a blood drive with Vitalant on Tuesday, May 25, which helped collect a total of 15 units of blood products for patients in need.
All lanes have been reopened on westbound Interstate 94 near Rothsay. The interstate was closed in this area for several hours due to a semi rollover.
Motorists heading westbound on Interstate 94 near Rothsay will encounter a temporary road closure due to a semi rollover. Follow the signed interstate alternate routes between Exit 38 near Rothsay and Exit 32.
On Thursday, Gov. Tim Walz launched ‘Your Shot to Summer,’ the state’s COVID-19 vaccine incentive campaign encouraging Minnesotans to roll up their sleeves and get their COVID-19 vaccine during the next month.
Otter Tail County and Otter Tail Lakes Country Association (OTLCA) are excited to announce the launch of a new countywide job portal. The job portal will connect jobseekers and people looking to move to the area with opportunities in the area. It automatically collects the more than 1,000 av…
The 2021 legislative session ended May 17 with the Legislature failing to finish its work on the state budget; however, the governor and legislative leaders agreed to a high-level budget framework before adjournment.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s office along with multiple other agencies responded on Sunday to a two-vehicle crash with fatalities. The crash occurred at the intersection of County Road 3 SE and Hope Road SE.
The Wadena County Sheriff’s Office received a report of protestors on the pipeline right of way in Section 6 of Huntersville Township, northwest of Huntersville on Monday. The complainant stated there were approximately 30 individuals demonstrating and some of them were climbing on equipment…
Someone contacted Fergus Falls police on Monday about a situation involving a possibly stolen dog that they had found. The person told an officer that she had found the lost or stolen dog belonging to a Facebook friend outside a home on Broadway Avenue. The person said they were waiting to h…
A business owner contacted Fergus Falls on Monday about issues with a nearby traffic light. The business owner told police that when vehicles are heading south on College Way to Lincoln Avenue with just one or two cars, that when they are trying to make a left turn onto Lincoln, the light wi…
